Revolving doors: Another departure from Shearman as firms make moves in finance and real estate

Revolving doors: Another departure from Shearman as firms make moves in finance and real estate

Debt finance specialist Rahul Chatterji became the latest partner to leave Shearman & Sterling this week, with Linklaters announcing that he will join its Asia banking practice in May. Chatterji has experience in cross-border transactions, with a particular focus on India and Southeast Asia. He will move first to Linklaters’ London office, before relocating to …

Feeling the chill? Kirkland reports just 8% revenue increase for 2022

Feeling the chill? Kirkland reports just 8% revenue increase for 2022

Often the bellwether for global law firm financials, the world’s highest-grossing firm, Kirkland & Ellis, has posted muted revenue and profit growth for 2022, with turnover up 8% and partner profits up just 2% – its slowest performance year-on-year for some time.  Kirkland made major waves in the legal sector last year, when a 25% …

‘A lot of grey areas’: India legal market liberalisation met with optimism though questions remain

‘A lot of grey areas’: India legal market liberalisation met with optimism though questions remain

While the international legal community has largely been sanguine at the Bar Council of India (BCI) opening the door for foreign lawyers and law firms to establish offices and practice in India, uncertainties remain. The BCI announced the decision on 15 March in its ‘Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law …

‘Crisis averted’: City banking and corporate partners react as HSBC acquires SVB UK

‘Crisis averted’: City banking and corporate partners react as HSBC acquires SVB UK

After a tense weekend of negotiations, the Bank of England announced on Monday (13 March) that HSBC would buy the UK branch of collapsed US bank Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). The acquisition, which was completed for a token amount of £1, prevents SVBUK being put into insolvency. The Bank of England said in a statement …

‘A somewhat unique position’: Quinn Emanuel opens second mainland China office in Beijing

‘A somewhat unique position’: Quinn Emanuel opens second mainland China office in Beijing

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has announced the launch of a new office in Beijing, its second in mainland China following its 2016 opening in Shanghai. The new branch will be headed by Xiao Liu, head of Quinn’s China practice. Haiyan Tang will remain as head of the Shanghai office, and will also move into …

Revolving doors: Private equity stays hot with high-profile departures from A&O and Travers

Revolving doors: Private equity stays hot with high-profile departures from A&O and Travers

Sullivan & Cromwell made a major play last week with its hire of prominent private equity partner Karan Danamani from Allen & Overy. A Legal 500 Hall of Famer in high-value PE transactions, Danamani joined Allen & Overy from Ashurst in 2014, and has significant expertise in complex cross-border work. The move marks a significant …

Pivot, pivot: Shearman names new senior partner in wake of failed Hogan Lovells merger talks

Pivot, pivot: Shearman names new senior partner in wake of failed Hogan Lovells merger talks

Shearman & Sterling has named respected litigator Adam Hakki as the senior partner successor to David Beveridge, as the firm comes to terms with its failure to strike a merger deal with Hogan Lovells. The move will be cemented in a formal election later in the year, however the firm said in a statement that …

Revolving doors: Cravath launches English law practice with two hires from Shearman

Revolving doors: Cravath launches English law practice with two hires from Shearman

Cravath, Swaine & Moore launched an English-law offering last week through the hire of partner duo Philip Stopford and Korey Fevzi from Shearman & Sterling. Though Cravath has maintained an office in London since 1973, it has never fielded a team of English law practitioners. Its decision to do so now leaves Paul Weiss as …

‘It will be important whatever happens’: Pallas Partners represents ClientEarth in climate action against Shell’s board

‘It will be important whatever happens’: Pallas Partners represents ClientEarth in climate action against Shell’s board

In what the client has billed ‘the first case of its kind seeking to hold corporate directors personally liable’, Pallas Partners is representing ClientEarth pro bono in its case against Shell’s board of directors for ‘mismanaging climate risk’. After nearly a year of pre-action proceedings, Pallas Partners has filed a derivative action against the energy …